<p>Things I have learned in library school (in no particular order, and this is by no means an exhaustive list): </p>
<p>-the principles of record management (electronic and paper), and the necessary components of a records management policy.
-how to best preserve digital objects. This includes both born-digital (IE: Word documents) and paper-born (IE: a book that’s been scanned) objects.
-the digitization of just about anything.
-the MARC cataloging of printed materials, heck…most anything.
-encoding in EAD
-XML coding
-how to conduct a successful user study
-how to write a successful collection development policy
-how to write a successful grant
-how to properly conduct the reference interview. and how to find what the patron is looking for, because often they are saying “I want A”, but they really want Q. It is your job to Q, either through telepathy, dragging it out of them, or conducting a good reference interview.
-Why having coffee bars in libraries is BAD.</p>
<p>I have also learned that the general public has NO idea what librarians do, or the training it entails. Which is sad, because librarians are generally under appreciated and VERY underpaid, unless they would like to go into the corporate sector.</p>
<p>And I still have a semester to go and my thesis to write.</p>